Stories by Lynn LaRowe

Teens accused in home invasion robbery TEXARKANA, Texas -- A teen and a man accused of committing an armed, home invasion robbery are being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $500,000 each.Charles "Chuckie" Routier, 1... June 8, 2022

Jury acquits man of two counts of rape involving teen girl TEXARKANA, Ark. -- A Miller County jury acquitted a man Wednesday of two counts of rape involving a teen girl. Scott Preston Dunson, 38, was accused of sexual misconduct with the girl in 2019 and 2020... June 8, 2022

State finds Bowie County jail non-compliant following April escape of two inmates TEXARKANA, Texas -- Two correctional officers were fired in April, following the escape of two inmates from the Bowie County jail, for documenting face-to-face checks that did not actually occur, acco... June 7, 2022

Man accused of murdering girlfriend found competent TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man accused of strangling his girlfriend to death last year talked over the judge and his lawyer Monday at a pretrial hearing in Bowie County. Travis Alston Turner, 28, allegedly... June 6, 2022

Man sentenced to a year in jail for burning dogs TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man who used fire and rubbing alcohol to stop his dog from fighting was sentenced Monday to a year in jail for felony animal cruelty.James Lynn Taylor, 27, appeared for sentencin... June 6, 2022

Murder case on hold while defendant undergoes mental exam TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Proceedings in a Miller County murder case are on hold until the accused undergoes an evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial. Christopher Allen Basham, 34, is fac... June 3, 2022

WITH POLL | Court affirms life sentence in 16-year-old’s murder TEXARKANA, Texas -- A Texas appellate court has affirmed the murder conviction and life sentence of a man convicted last year of killing a 16-year-old boy in 2020.Demarius Dejuan Taylor, 22, was found... June 3, 2022

UPDATE | Bail set at $500,000 for man accused in infant’s death TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Bail has been set at $500,000 for a Texarkana man accused in the recent death of a 2-month-old boy.If Jeffrey Allen McPherson, 38, manages to post bond, he must wear a GPS-equipped ... June 3, 2022

Naked man arrested in Little River County in stolen car LITTLE RIVER COUNTY, Ark. -- A man arrested in April allegedly was driving a stolen car in the nude when he honked at a deputy in a convenience store parking lot in Foreman.Daryl Keith Roberts, 44, wa... June 3, 2022

Jury selection begins soon in fetal abduction case NEW BOSTON, Texas -- The first step began last week in picking a jury to decide the fate of a woman accused of murdering a pregnant New Boston mom and taking her unborn child in October 2020.Two thous... June 1, 2022

Father sentenced to 46 years in death of 3-year-old daughter TEXARKANA, Ark. -- A father was sentenced to 46 years in prison Tuesday in the 2019 beating death of his 3-year-old daughter. Everette John Cawley, 26, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and two co... May 31, 2022

‘I got chased leaving the courthouse’ TEXARKANA, Texas — United States Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven is retiring from a federal bench in Texarkana after 24 years of service.Craven was selected to be a magistrate in the Eastern Di... May 30, 2022

Government opposes defense motions in Lansdell clinics TEXARKANA, Ark. -- The government opposes defense motions to sever allegations of opioid distribution from ones involving healthcare fraud in a federal criminal case involving Lansdell Family Clinics.... May 25, 2022

Inmate in federal lockup allegedly possessed 60 SIM cards TEXARKANA, Texas -- An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana has been charged with 60 misdemeanor counts for possession of SIM cards. Jose Salvador Maldonado, 49, is charged in a... May 24, 2022

WITH POLL | Helmet maker, injured Bowie football player’s family reach settlement TEXARKANA, Texas -- A settlement has been announced in a lawsuit against Riddell, the maker of a football helmet worn by a player who suffered a life-altering brain injury during a 2017 game in Simms,... May 23, 2022

Two more accused of bogus dealings at Red River TEXARKANA, Texas -- Criminal cases filed Friday in federal court in Texarkana accuse two men of conspiracy to restrain trade by rigging bids for lucrative government contracts at Red River Army Depot.... May 21, 2022

Appeals court upholds 38-year sentence in woman’s death TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man whose fists were found by a jury to be deadly weapons was denied a new trial this week by an appellate court in Texarkana. Dontavious Dishawn Haney, 21, was found guilty of a... May 20, 2022

Man who possessed child porn ordered to pay $54,000 to victims in images TEXARKANA, Ark. -- A local man who possessed images of child pornography on his laptop was ordered Thursday to pay $54,000 in restitution to victims pictured in the images he downloaded. Demarcus Marc... May 19, 2022

Man accused of tracking estranged wife with cell phone zip tied under her car TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man accused of tracking his estranged wife's movements with a cell phone ziptied beneath her car is facing a stalking charge in Bowie County. Gerry Wayne Card Jr., 48, and his wi... May 19, 2022

Eight men arrested in prostitution sting TEXARKANA, Texas -- Eight men have been arrested in an undercover sting operation targeting prostitution. Each of the men allegedly thought he was negotiating sex for money with a person engaged in pr... May 18, 2022

Father pleads guilty to abuse of corpse involving son TEXARKANA, Texas -- A New Boston man whose son's skeletonized remains were found in his kitchen in March pleaded guilty Tuesday to abuse of a corpse. David McMichael, 67, reportedly told police he did... May 17, 2022

Feds accuse four men of distributing drugs resulting in deaths TEXARKANA, Texas -- A federal indictment unsealed Tuesday accuses four men of conspiring to distribute drugs in the Texarkana area resulting in several overdose deaths. Deablo Deshon Lewis, 31, aka "P... May 17, 2022

Man arrested last year at Red Lobster with nearly $50,000 in his pants pleads guilty TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man arrested at a Texarkana restaurant last year with a pistol and approximately $50,000 stuffed in his pants pleaded guilty Monday to unlawfully carrying a weapon. Micholas Kaym... May 16, 2022

Former high school teacher charged with six counts of sexual assault involving student TEXARKANA, Ark. -- A former Arkansas High School teacher has been formally charged with six felonies related to alleged sexual misconduct with a student.Edward Jasiel Hernandez, 25, was arrested March... May 16, 2022

Rapist exhausts appeals, will remain imprisoned until at least 2071 Editor's Note: It is Texarkana Gazette policy to withhold the names of victims of sexual assault. Amy Stanley, who has become an advocate for sexual assault survivors, asked that her name be used. TEX... May 13, 2022

Warrant issued for woman accused of abuse of corpse TEXARKANA, Ark. -- A woman accused of leaving her sister's body to decompose for years has been wanted by authorities in Miller County since failing to show for a pretrial hearing in February. Debbie ... May 12, 2022

Charges pile up for man accused of ramming girlfriend’s car, shooting passenger TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man accused of ramming his girlfriend's car and shooting her passenger is facing a felony indictment and two misdemeanor charges. Princeston Crawford, 31, was upset that his girl... May 11, 2022

Man accused of burning woman faces kidnapping charge TEXARKANA, Texas -- A Texarkana man accused of burning a woman while holding her against her will has been arrested for aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon. De'Farious Eric Phillips, 23, was ta... May 10, 2022

Woman gets 18 years in 2020 shooting of 16-year-old TEXARKANA, Texas -- A woman whose brother is serving a life term in the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy received an 18-year term Monday for her role in the killing. Bosnia Delease Taylor, 23, and ... May 10, 2022

Father of injured infant charged with witness tampering TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man accused of trying to get an alleged assault victim to change his account has been arrested for witness tampering by Texarkana, Texas, police. The witness tampering charge aga... May 9, 2022

WITH POLL | Man accused of burning dog to face Bowie County jury next month TEXARKANA, Texas -- A Bowie County judge on Monday scheduled a June jury trial for a man accused of setting a dog on fire.James Lynn Taylor, 27, of Redwater, appeared with Assistant Public Defender Cl... May 9, 2022

Mom who rammed vehicle faces charges of aggravated assault, injury to child TEXARKANA, Texas -- A woman accused of ramming a car in which her injured 5-month-old baby was a passenger was indicted last week in Bowie County. Charquevya Kirkendall, 22, allegedly caused a crash t... May 8, 2022

Texarkana man faces 40 counts of child pornography TEXARKANA, Texas -- A Texarkana man has been indicted in Bowie County on 40 counts of child pornography possession. Jared Upchurch, 31, was arrested March 3, the same day officers with the Texarkana, ... May 8, 2022

Graphic Packaging settles lawsuit over workplace accident TEXARKANA, Texas -- A lawsuit stemming from a 2019 workplace accident at Graphic Packaging has been resolved with a confidential settlement. Montgomery "Monte" Crompton was blasted with 200-degree ste... May 7, 2022

Motion asks judge to separate drug, fraud allegations in Lansdell Family Clinics case TEXARKANA, Ark. -- A defense motion filed Thursday in a criminal case involving Lansdell Family Clinics argues that defendants accused of a drug crime shouldn't be tried with those accused of fraud. A... May 6, 2022

Defendants plead guilty to pandemic-related fraud TEXARKANA, Texas — A Maud man pleaded guilty in a Texarkana federal court Friday to wire fraud charges related to funds meant to help small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.Samuel Morgan... May 6, 2022

Woman indicted for allegedly slapping dementia patient at Texarkana nursing home TEXARKANA, Texas -- A woman allegedly caught on video slapping an 87-year-old dementia patient at a Texarkana nursing home in March has been indicted by a Bowie County grand jury. Sharee Shantrell Bry... May 5, 2022

Teen accused of gunpoint convenience store holdup pleads not guilty TEXARKANA, Texas --A 17-year-old accused of pointing a gun at a convenience store clerk in February pleaded not guilty Monday to aggravated robbery. Malaki Scott Beckham appeared for arraignment Monda... May 3, 2022

Woman pleads guilty to misdemeanor assault; witness tampering dismissed TEXARKANA, Texas -- A woman who was initially charged with felony witness tampering pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor assault in Bowie County. Kimberly Michelle Gilliland, 29, appeared Tuesday mor... May 3, 2022

Woman pleads not guilty to exploiting elderly woman TEXARKANA, Texas -- A woman accused of stealing more than $17,000 while working as a caretaker for a woman in her 90s pleaded not guilty Tuesday to exploitation of the elderly. Tiffani Lucille Barker,... May 3, 2022

Trial dates set for couple charged in death of 11-month-old Texarkana boy TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man accused of capital murder in the death last year of an 11-month-old Texarkana boy is scheduled to face a jury in October. Joshua Deshaun Lowe, 29, faces life without parole p... May 2, 2022

Network provider Cisco accused of intimidation, monopoly TEXARKANA, Texas -- An antitrust lawsuit filed this week in Texarkana federal court accuses Cisco Systems of using coercive practices to maintain a monopoly in the commercial networking equipment and ... April 30, 2022

Illegal immigrant sentenced to federal prison for possessing firearm TEXARKANA, Ark. -- A Palestenian man was sentenced to time served plus 10 days for possessing a firearm while present in the U.S. illegally. Abdallah Ahmed Ali, 30, has been held in the Miller County ... April 29, 2022

Texarkana man sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for meth TEXARKANA, Ark. -- A Texarkana man who came into police custody in 2020 was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in federal prison for a drug crime. Terron Jerome Pearse, 33, has been in custody since his ... April 28, 2022

Feds charge Texarkana man with child porn possession TEXARKANA, Ark. -- A Texarkana man appeared before a federal judge this week on a charge of child pornography possession. Geoffrey "Gunner" May, 46, was originally charged in Miller County circuit cou... April 28, 2022

Man accused of using commercial can opener to damage former boss’ car TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man accused of using a can opener to bash the windows of his former manager's car has been charged with felony criminal mischief in Bowie County. Russell Leroy Traylor, 60, alleg... April 28, 2022

Former RRAD official pleads guilty to bribery TEXARKANA, Texas -- Another former Red River Army Depot official has pleaded guilty to bribery in a scheme involving lucrative government contracts. Louis Edward Singleton, 64, appeared with Texarkana... April 27, 2022

Counselor sentenced to 14 months for healthcare fraud by federal judge in Texarkana TEXARKANA, Texas -- A licensed counselor was sentenced to 14 months in prison for healthcare fraud by a federal judge Tuesday in Texarkana. Jason Neil Hughes used an identification number for a Texark... April 26, 2022

Longview lawyer appointed to fill vacancy on Texarkana appeals court TEXARKANA, Texas -- Gov. Greg Abbott announced the appointment Monday of Longview, Texas, lawyer Charles van Cleef to fill a vacancy on the 6th Court of Appeals in Texarkana. Van Cleef will fill the P... April 26, 2022

Man pleads not guilty to child porn charges TEXARKANA, Texas -- A man who was charged with child pornography possession at the end of a traffic stop last year pleaded not guilty Monday to three felonies. James "Jimmy" Tubbs, 31, of Ashdown, Ark... April 25, 2022

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